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Brooklyn, New York Brace For Straight Pride Parade Aug 1st.
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by reggaewire | July 24, 2008 at 10:00 pm
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"Although reggae is known for its militancy and its resistance to injustice," TCOOO Productions proclaimed, "the reggae community has remained calm throughout the attack on the music by Peter Tatchell and other Gay activists (sic) groups."
Frequent reports of kidnappings, harassment and mob beatings of gays, particularly in Jamaica, provide the backdrop for the lyrics of reggae and dancehall artists such as Beenie Man and Buju Banton, assailed by OutRage! founder Peter Tatchell as part of his Stop Murder Music campaign, which spans two decades.
Buju Banton's "Boom Bye Bye," released in the early 1990s is cited as the catalyst to the campaign's birth.
"The Straight Pride Parade is a chance for Heterosexuals to gather together and proudly embrace their sexuality," said reggae artist Jango Fresh. "The Parade will also allow reggae and dancehall fans who are in New York City for the Labor Day celebrations to get together and celebrate reggae, dancehall and family in love and unity."
Gay Jamaicans at home and aboard have responded to the parade “as an attempt to undermine the principle of gay liberation.” Other gay sympathizers have disregarded the parade as an anemic attempt to sideline Gay and Lesbian rights in the greater Caribbean and North America.
On the heels of frequent cancellations and interruption of radio play, Buju Banton, Sizzla Kalonji, Beenie Man and Capleton have signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, acknowledging their music's historical use as an agent of influence, activism and positive change and pledging to temper hatred and prejudice in their music.
The event is planned for August 31, 2008 in Brooklyn, on the same route as the Caribbean Labor Day parade.
The Reggae News Agency
www.riddimjamaica.net | www.riddimja.com
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 17:00 on August 2nd, 2008
I note the picture in this story shows a typical Jamaican mob attacking someone because they are gay. It came from the Jamaican press. Is that the type of behavior that reggae/dancehall wants to 'celebrate' in Brooklyn? Of course, its a rhetorical question because we KNOW that Buju, Beenie, Elephant, Vybz, and some insignificant never was (and never will be) named Jango Fresh encourage and celebrate violence against LGBT Jamaicans.
Keep it up guys, most people still aren't aware of Jamaica's disgusting violence towards LGBT people. And that there are still venues/sponsors that further Dancehall garbage. Events like this simply help us get the message out about Jamaica/Dancehall. And it won't look pretty.
We'll be there to record the parade. Count on it. Lets see if what kind of behavior Dancehall wants to show the world. My guess: lewd heterosexuality, vile language, glorification of violence against LGBT people, and other behavior far more offensive to 95% of Americans than anything Gay people do. You guys will make our case for us (that Dancehall and Jamaicans are violent, offensive thugs) at this event.
at 17:03 on August 2nd, 2008
Buju Banton claims that he never signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. And everyone in Reggae knows it. Furthermore, after he supposedly signed the agreement, he performed Boom Bye Bye in a concert in Guyana. Don't try and clean him up. Its beyond that.
at 05:59 on September 1st, 2008
Undereducated,ignorant bigots... who will never be able to climb the social ladder...revenge is so sweet. keep up the gay bashing all you ignorant low-lifes, while the rest of us are becoming more and more educated and successful...
I would never even travel to Jamaica because I refuse to spend my hard-earned money in nation that breeds hatred and bigotry.
And Crown Heights is disgusting. I used to pay 1300/month for a one bedroom in the ghetto, and got harassed every day by disgusting men eating chicken bones on the street, and shouting lewd remarks and harassing me and my partner. (they would also refer to me as a "white whore" ....which is mind boggling, considering that i am MEXICAN.)
Somebody please educate these ignorant, losers. They let their children become losers...and their excuse? Being black and poor? I was raised Latina and poor, in EAST LA (NYC has yet to experience TRUE danger and gang violence)...and I still had a college education...the poor person of color excuse doesnt fly anymore...
I have no sympathy for these idiots...and would never attend their vile parade.